My first Yelp Elite broadway event! I've been to the venue many times because I absolutely adore broadway. I had no idea what to expect with An American In Paris but the set was beautiful. There was more dancing than singing but still very cool to watch. My friend and I got there early and had no issues with getting our tickets. We wandered around a bit and never noticed that they serve food on the higher level floors. So if you wanted to go early and snack around you could, though it is definitely up-priced. My friend did have to check in her bag because it was an oversized purse, which unfortunately also cost $5, so ladies remember to bring a small purse only! Even though we were seated at the back orchestra the view was quite good. Thanks to Yelp for providing tickets! read more

I saw Something Rotten last week and the Phantom of the Opera a month ago or so ... Broadway in Austin delivered once again! Every show I come see here is fantastic! I really didn't know what to expect with Something Rotten and did a little research. This was my first broadway comedy show and boy was I laughing and smiling from ear to ear the entire time! It was one of the most enjoyable shows I have ever seen! I really liked the Phantom of the Opera too ... it was almost the complete opposite of Something Rotten. It had some pretty amazing effects. Parking at the Bass Hall isn't that bad either. I usually get there a half hour before the show and I prefer to park on the stretch of road that has all the parking spots you pull into. It is $10 to park I believe. There are also some garages a short walk away I have parked in as well. I have never valeted but it is an option. If you've never seen a show here I highly recommend it! read more

Broadway in Austin - Something Rotten! #rotteninatx - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was SO excited to be given the opportunity to see RENT this past weekend! Rent was absolutely fantastic! I was less familiar with the storyline coming in, I had seen the movie years ago so I had a small idea of the plot. I loved watching the story develop on stage! I would definitely recommend this show to anyone!! (over the age of like 13? 15? I don't know but it's definitely not for kids!) And as always Bass Concert Hall was a great venue! We had an amazing view!! I can't imagine that there is a bad seat in the house!! My fiancé and I had a wonderful time, thank you Luci and Yelp!! read more

Broadway in Austin - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Oh how lovely this evening turned out to be.. with great seats to an absolutely great Broadway show..!! Shoutout to the CM & Yelp for hooking us up with this Elite event tix, we had a blast. Parking was a breeze, as we paid $10 for event parking and walked right across the street to the venue. The show was packed & as always lines for the drinks & restrooms. Best idea is to take the elevators & go upstairs, much less crowded for both. Choose the stairs for quick access. Wifey had to check-in her backpack, but got a cute bag to keep some stuff handy, as a keeper, score! About the show, the Phantom of the Opera was filled with theatrical moments, classic Broadway with talented cast. We thoroughly enjoyed the musical, it was intensely gripping at every moment, until the absolute climax. The storyline, even though predictable, was executed by an exhilarating intensity using the props, & most importantly the stage setup! Loved another YEE..!!! Will keep coming back and sharing our experiences. read more

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Rent reaches its 20th anniversary with this commemorative tour. It was my first time to have seen this musical, and despite knowing the general plot and having lived through the times it depicts (as an observer), I found it a little tough to follow the finer points of the plot at first. Dialogue can be quick and sparse and the band on stage can be loud, and maybe all the years of loud rock concerts have started to take their toll... But by the second act, which opens with 525 Seconds of the best song in the show, I felt like I had a better understanding of the characters and what was happening with them. There is some stellar acting in this show. Aaron Harrington as Tom Collins was charismatic and wholly engaging, and his voice is sonorous and huge! I feel as though it's only a matter of time before he's captured for a lead role by some Broadway director and we'll have to actually go to NYC to see him perform. Skyler Volpe as Mimi completely embodied her character, and her pole dance off the balcony of the second floor will absolutely make you hold your breath while your eyes almost pop out of your head, wondering what insane contortion she will execute next. Aaron Alcaraz was a crowd favorite as the flamboyant and charismatic Angel Schunard. Not many characters can make an entire audience cheer just by walking onstage, but that's what happened. In short, what once was a hot cultural statement has become an encapsulated historical statement, and it's good to remember what happened, even if it's just a snippet. This play is just a snapshot of a particular group of people in a particular time in their lives, but perhaps we can all find something to identify with in their struggle. This is not a musical for children, but so many of the touring Broadway shows are for children that they shouldn't mind being left with the babysitter for one of them. Thanks so much to Broadway Austin, to Yelp, and to Luci for giving us the opportunity to see these beautiful performances! By far, these are my favorite Yelp events. read more

Broadway in Austin - Rent! Parking is available on campus for a flat fee. - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

I must say the venue was easy to find and parking garage super close. We had an exceptionally easy time picking up tickets from the Press table. Many thanks to Luci and Yelp Elite for the opportunity to see the show! The first staff person we talked to gave us a rundown of the entire building and what we would find on each floor. She gave us tips on where to find the food and where the best bathrooms were with the shortest lines during intermission. She also looked at our tickets and told us where the best entrance was to find our seats . She made us feel like she was extremely glad we were there and didn't make us feel stupid for not knowing the venue since this was our first time at Bass Concert Hall. The food was excellent but very pricey and small portion. Drink of the night was $12. The theater temperature was initially just-right, but then the air-conditioning kicked in as more people arrived and it was very very cold by the end. I had stupidly forgotten my shawl in the car and there is a no re-entry policy so I was just stuck being uncomfortable for about three fourths of the show. The ochestra was top notch with the trumpet being outstanding. They were so perfect it was as if this was a recording but being a trumpet player myself I was listening for that horn and the trumpet players did an amazing job leading most of the score. The play itself was more of a ballet but when they did speak it was good and the dancing was excellent. I had only been to Broadway shows on Broadway before so the setting is definitely not as intimate as a Broadway show but it was easy enough to see the stage from our back row seats. read more

Broadway in Austin - Ready to enjoy - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

We saw School of Rock here. It was our first time seeing a broadway show at this theater, and it was impressive! Beautiful building, and an added bonus: drink bar on every floor. We would love to see another show here some time. All the staff was very friendly too. Word of Warning: My wife's purse is more of a backpack. They have a rule that if the backpack is over a certain size, you either can't bring it in, or have to check it at the coat check counter for $5. They let you take anything out of it you want and bring it in, but the bag itself has to be checked. On a side note: the show, School of Rock, was awesome. Even better than I was expecting. Spot on to the movie! read more

I have been a Broadway Across America subscriber for years and each season has been great. Sometimes a season has some duds where I don't care about seeing but give those tickets to friends to enjoy. The shows are performed at Bass Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. This venue is pretty good and is very roomy. Each traveling show brings their own sound equipment so I hear some complaints about volume and clarity, but it's not the venue's fault. The acoustics is great. My seats are in the orchestra but have pretty much sat everywhere here. Next year Hamilton will make a three week appearance. Overall the orchestra has a good vantage point but would avoid the edges from rows A-F where you don't have a very good angle and may not be able to see parts of the stage. The last rows of the orchestra may feel you are way back. The first few rows in the mezzanine are prime. The upper deck is pretty high and better bring theater binoculars or have excellent vision. I recommend purchasing season tickets where when you renew them have the opportunity to move to better seats. If going to a single show then recommend first trying the box office before StubHub. read more

My husband and I saw the show last night thanks to the Yelp team. The show was entertaining and more than I had expected. The amazing, talented kids were great and absolutely the star of the show! Their singing was phenomenal and one song even made me tear up, but I won't ruin it for y'all by going into more details. The stage was pretty cool. I came to the show with low expectations but wow they really impressed me. The actors/actresses transitioned between scenes seamlessly and flawlessly. The stage was full of energy and entertained the audience throughout the show. It was a great touch to also engage the audience. The music was catchy and had a great beat. The kids played their instruments amazingly and it was such an inspiration! Overall, great show for the family. Bring your kids if you want to inspire them to play an instrument! Bring yourself if you need inspiration! Thank you Yelp for putting these events together!!! The events are absolutely amazing and my favorite. Keep 'Em coming! read more

I love seeing Broadway shows through Texas Performing Arts. The sets, the touring cast, the sound, and the music are always incredible. I've seen Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (amazing!), Book of Mormon (sooo good) and Rent (life changing) at Bass Concert Hall, and last night I got to see Wicked thanks to TPA and Yelp. I've wanted to see Wicked for years, and it was amazing. If you're thinking about going, just go! There is not a bad seat in the house, and a live orchestra plays for the show. The touring cast gave Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth a run for their money. I'll be singing Defying Gravity and Popular for weeks. As Cynthia L. said, those ladies have PIPES! The tickets are worth the full price, but there are also $25 tickets raffled off at Bass Concert Hall every night, 2 and a half hours before each show. You have to be there to win, and you have to pay in cash. I won the lottery once for Book of Mormon and my seats were in the second row. If you don't win one day, come back, because I tried maybe 5 times before I finally won. Hint: trying to win the lottery is not the best idea if you want to see a show, because the odds of winning are not the greatest. Also: The seats in the orchestra section are in a long row, so it's best to wait until intermission to leave. There are bathrooms on every floor. Go before the show starts! Each floor sells beer, wine, and snacks, too. read more

Broadway in Austin - At Bass Concert Hall to see Wicked! - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've seen a lot of performances at Broadway in Austin (a.k.a. Bass Concert Hall), and this exceeded my expectations. Believe it or not, I have never seen the musical on stage. I've read the novel. I've seen the 2004 movie. I also I owned the original cast CDs with Michael Crawford as the voice of Phantom. Needless to say, I have blasted those CDs in my car on road trips singing at the top of my lungs with the music. I find sometimes when I build up these things in my mind, I leave disappointed like when I saw Cats. This was definitely NOT the case. The performance of Derrick Davis, cast as The Phantom of the Opera, was nothing short of phenomenal. He has a such a powerful sound that rivals Michael Crawford. I was mesmerized by his voice and his passion. And then there was the set. First, the chandelier was hanging over the first several rows and had me nearly jump out of my balcony seat as it fell a good distance before dangling over the audience. It was an interesting perspective seeing that from the balcony. Then there was the stage. I always love to see how theater companies compact, re-purpose and creatively make use of sets. The use of what I can only describe as a turret-like structure turned, opened, and closed in different configurations to reveal everything from the opera stage, to a ballroom, to dressing rooms and offices, and the Phantom's lair. The outer portion had a winding staircase that magically appeared and disappeared and stairs effortlessly expanded and retracted from the wall. The musical went from operatic whimsical and colorful cast performances interjected with humor to tragic powerful ballads. It was opening night, and the sound seemed not to always carry to the balcony for some of the other performers. We did not have Katie Travis as Christine. She was played by Kordan Ensign. She had a beautiful voice but we struggles to hear some of her lyrics as well as those of Jordan Craig (cast as Raoul). I am sure they will work out those sound issues. Thanks Luci and Broadway in Austin and for a fabulous evening. I came home singing "Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you! ..... Luci and Broadway in Austin, I Loooooovvve you!" read more

Went to see Come From Away with free passes I received for being a Yelp elite member. Show was unforgettable! It was both heart warming and funny. We got there five minutes before the show started so we didn't get to browse around or have a drink. The staff was friendly and helpful. Parking was easy at the San Jacinto garage and cost $15 which isn't bad for event parking. Ladies they have a clear bag policy so be prepared. read more

Broadway in Austin - Come From Away - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I remember seeing Rent back in 1999 when Daphne Rubin-Vega, the original Mimi, led the cast at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre. I was transfixed from the first note and it remains the only time that I was so entranced by a musical theater production that I cried (Tom Collins' I'll Cover You Reprise got me). Nearly twenty years later, it was a treat to revisit Rent in all of its 1990s glory. What was once edgy material feels less so, but it was such an enjoyable, nostalgic time capsule of a show. While some of the references are dated, the themes of community and hope ring just as true today. And the songbook has staying power...turns out that the lyrics never left my memory, so I had to fight the desire to sing along. The standout performances were definitely Aaron Harrington as Tom Collins and Aaron Alcaraz as Angel. Bass Concert Hall remains one of my favorite venues in town. Relatively easy parking (pay online ahead of time to save a few bucks), plenty of legroom, and good acoustics. Many thanks to Broadway in Austin, Yelp, and our intrepid CM Luci for a fun-filled evening! read more

Have the opportunity to see Toostie with complimentary tickets. The show was great, very entertaining! Great seats! It felt somewhat normal attending a show once more. read more

I watched Broadway's A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and I must say, I enjoyed every minute of the show. To be honest, I've never heard of this musical so I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into. But during the show, I was pleasantly surprised to find it both very humorous and fun to watch. The cast were very creative with the visual effects and it was so entertaining to watch. I've watched a few shows before but this show kept me laughing from the beginning to the end. As for the venue (Bass Concert Hall) itself, it is very clean. I sat in the orchestra seats (row Q) and it was a good view to the stage. Sounds were very clear and loud from the stage. Definitely would love to watch more shows at this venue in the future. read more

Woohoo! As good as it gets! No better way to say it. This is now the third show I have seen at Broadway in Austin and it's officially my favorite. I always knew Carol King played a major role in music for quite some time but I didn't know how many of those song I loved. Beautiful does an incredible job at covering Carol King's incredible career over many years. Through the good and bad times, the show keeps you entertained and interested. I will say, the only down side was that music at times was almost too loud. It would come and go but we were in section Z and at certain times, I almost needed to cover my ears for how loud it was. Other then that, I loved the show and am so thankful for yelp and yelp elite. You truly can't beat the shows at Broadway in Austin! read more

Growing up, The Little Mermaid was one of my favorite Disney movies of all time (Second only to Beauty and the Beast, because she lived in France obviously). I've seen it a million times and know the words to every song by heart. I was curious to see how they would translate it to the stage but they completely nailed it. I was blown away and even admit to nearly tearing up a few times. Ah, nostalgia. I took Noni as my plus one (my grandma) because the movie reminds me so much of our time together when I was younger. The poor woman was tasked with playing the part of Ursula numerous times in our pretend sessions, and had to suffer through hearing me sing the same songs over and over, so needless to say she earned it. Disney gets huge props for this one because the costumes and sets were downright mesmerizing. Especially the Under the Sea performance where all the vivid colors and music were almost reminiscent of Carnival. I loved every second of this play and while Alison Woods was fantastic as Ariel, it was Melvin Abston and Jennifer Allen who stole the show for me. They played the parts of Sebastian the crab and Ursula the sea witch and sang some of the best songs of the night. Their quick wit and humor really added to the experience and made it all that much more enjoyable. The entire cast did a phenomenal job and our seats were amazing. We were in the second balcony and had a perfect view of the entire stage. I snapped a few pictures of the backdrop but deleted them immediately when one of the workers kindly informed me that pictures were not allowed due to Disney's strict copyright laws. I get it, you don't become Disney without setting certain rules in place. It was so much fun seeing children in the audience dressed in their Little Mermaid outfits. The performing arts center even provides booster seats for them so they can get a better view. We both had such a wonderful time and I will forever be grateful to both Yelp and Texas Performing Arts for allowing me to make these special memories! read more

Broadway in Austin - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ladies and Gentlemen....and those who've yet to decide.... Get your sequined asses out to Kinky Boots! This was my second "drag show" this week, the first being Rocky Horror, and I have to say...I absolutely LOVE a muscled, confident man in drag. Kinky Boots was one of the funnest Broadway shows I've seen, right up there with "Priscilla" of course. The lead, Lola, had more attitude and head snaps than a full season of "Project Runway", and a gorgeous, huge voice to back it up. AND, it was not ALL glitz and glam and neck whippin....NO, this show had a message, one that anyone could learn from...acceptance of self, of others, of what life throws at you. It was just a big huge lovefest in heels, and that's MY kind of party. Once again, the night was seamless, with pre show noshing just 3 minutes away at Salty Sow, easy parking in the garage, and fantastic seats thanks to Yelp. The only thing that woulda made this better would be if I'd worn my own red Kinky Boots and been invited on stage, AGAIN, to dance with the cast. I think Dej and I woulda fit right in with the struttin and sashayin on stage...meh, their loss. read more

Broadway in Austin - Posin with Kinky Boots - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

I saw Beauty and the Beast perform yesterday and from the whimsical characters to the musical numbers I was completely impressed! I fell in love with each and every character..well with the exception of Monsieur d'Arque (the guy from the insane asylum). When the cast performed "Be Our Guest" everyone was in complete awe. The actors and story line did a wonderful job drawing the crowd in and keeping us at the edge of our seats. Bass Concert Hall is a fabulous venue to watch a performance. The employees are helpful and friendly. The entrance lines are nearly non existent and the drink lines move along quickly. Parking can be a challenge but if you look online ahead of time you will find nearby parking garages (we park at the one across from DKR's East side) and they also offer valet. Thank you Texas Performing Arts and Yelp for letting us be your guest! read more

Broadway in Austin - Beauty and the Beast stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

First time seeing Broadway in Austin and it was awesome! Had the pleasure of catching the King and I musical via Yelp. A couple of notes about Bass Concert Hall: It's a large theater that is in the middle of campus near the football stadium. There's valet parking and also several paid parking garages nearby. There's a will call outside and another one inside (for press). IMPORTANT: there's a size limit to the bag you can bring inside (about the size of a large purse) and if you bring a laptop, you MUST check your bag in (costs $5). I thought this was very inconvenient, but the manager was very nice about it and explained to me that I could get my bag whenever. The other note about the theater itself is that the rows of seats are extremely long with no aisles in the middle breaking them up, so you can't really get up except during intermission. As for the play itself, I won't spoil it too much but I thought the production and acting were both amazing! Didn't expect such a packed audience or fun atmosphere either. Definitely something worth checking out in Austin if you haven't! read more

"Hey Jude... Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude to Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude..." Now that I have subliminally put that song in your head for the rest of the day...okay...maybe it's just me? ;0 Lol... RAIN featured one the best Beatles ensembles I have ever seen...and I've seen and heard quite a few. And, although I sadly never had the opportunity to see the Beatles perform, I did get to see Paul McCartney play a few songs , including "Hey Jude," during the Super Bowl in 2005 and I must say RAIN's "Paul" was pretty spot on (as were the rest of the band/cast)! RAIN was indeed a tribute to Beatles rise to success and their decade long journey from the time they formed to when they broke up (1960-1970). As a "Broadway Performance" I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but if you let your imagination take over a bit the whole experience was maybe just a little itty tad like actually attending a concert - without all of the screaming and fainting girls (oh, and maybe the scent of Mary Jane wafting through the air - although a fellow attendee did say she thought she smelled some). The only minute negative, if I can even call it that, was when "Paul" thanked the audience for coming out to "listen to 'us' play and of course enjoy the songs of the Beatles." In my opinion it would have been more "artistic" (better choice of words???), as a Broadway Performance, if the cast kept in character during the entire show - with that one exception they did. Let the magic happen man! The cast (all American) of RAIN came together as a pretty phenomenal cover band. There were great tunes, costume changes, British accents, well executed lighting and imagery that accompanied the passing of time, including all of the cultural oddities, controversies, and lifestyles that comprised the 60s. Real footage of Vietnam War protests, humorous old commercials that included one where Fred and Barney thought watching their wives mow their lawns while they stoked on a Winston cig was a good idea, and of course several demonstrations of "Peace and Love." The show was also super audience interactive - we clapped our hands, were invited to sing along, even did the twist at some point, and ended up standing during the last few "encore" songs. Certainly not a typical night at the theatre. This was the only time I've been (in Austin or elsewhere) where being loud was encouraged and snapping photos wasn't frowned upon. It all made for a very interesting, entertaining, and groovy night! Such as gas! *Special thanks to the Texas Performing Arts and Yelp Austin! Being Elite is neat! ;) **As always, it was great to chat a bit and hang out with some fellow peeps from Yelpville. Xo. read more

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Love, love, love Broadway in Austin shows at Bass Concert Hall! Shout out to Yelp for the opportunity to see Come From Away last night. What a great show! The seats are comfortable and spacious and the bar is good, if pricey. Clean restrooms, great sound, fun shows! read more

Wow - incredible show & amazing venue to experience one of my all time favorite musicals in. John O'Hurley as Billy Flynn made the show for me. He was so charming and charismatic & I loved it! I couldn't believe how fantastic the dance moves were - how some of those ladies moved their bodies had me stumped- it was incredible. Turn after turn, then splits, then more turning AND singing perfectly...amazing. The opening act had me all razzled and dazzled with glee - such captivating and fantastic choreography! The show is running until Sunday & I believe tickets are still available. Lovers of musicals and folks looking for something to do other than bar hop, buy a ticket & check out this show. There is a reason it's the #1 longest running act on Broadway & this cast definitely delivers a spectacular show. read more

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Come From Away was amaaaaazing. The premise- a 9/11 musical- sounds questionable, but it was truly beautiful. I was laughing, applauding, and straight up sobbing at different points. So fun seeing a play with no lead, and where each actor plays numerous distinct characters. Note that there is no intermission. If you have trouble deciphering accents you may want to pre-game this with a few episodes of Derry Girls or Letterkenny. Thank you Yelp for the tickets! read more

Got to catch Rain perform on Friday night which seemed less like a Broadway production and more like a highly polished rock concert. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical initially during the first couple of songs. It just seemed odd to me that all these people - packed house in a large venue - were here to watch a Beatles cover band. I'm used to seeing cover bands playing to tens of people in some nondescript college bar or coffee house. Was it that Rain was just that much more talented, was it the show's affiliation with Broadway, or was it the music itself that commanded this popularity? By mid-show/concert, the question seemed moot as it was impossible not to get caught up in the whole production. And by the end, it was apparent that the answer was all of the above. I liked that each band member sang the part of their Beatles counterpart, so Paul's equivalent sang Paul songs, John's sang John songs, and so forth. And their voices were all excellent, there were no weak links in the band. The production of the show itself was impressive with the digital screens behind the band walking the audience through time. It gave the entire concert a nice storytelling arc - Broadway's contribution. I'm always impressed with the Broadway in Austin stages and effects when I come here and this show was no exception. And finally, the night was all about the music. This concert could have gone on for several more hours and everyone would have been cool with that. The Beatles catalogue is just so extensive and undeniably good. Buying the rights to it was probably the best decision MJ ever made. read more

Broadway in Austin - Rain tribute to the Beatles - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

What is better than seeing a Broadway show from the comfort of my home city? Seeing it in New York of course! If you can't get to Broadway, this is certainly the next best thing. Broadway Across America brings amazing talent with its touring productions. I have definitely seen far too many shows to name, because I am a musical junky. Last night, I was treated to the jubilant, spectacular show that is, Kinky Boots. It's the story of fathers and sons and the weight of their expectations. Young Charlie Price grows up, with his dad expecting him to take over the fourth generation of Price and Sons Shoe factory, but Charlie follows his childhood sweetheart to London instead. When Charlie's father dies, Charlie decides to go back to his small town and save the failing shoe factory. With the help of a drag queen named Lola, who has her own story of letting her father down, he comes up with a niche market that may save the factory and may teach him a powerful lesson about acceptance. The show was a treat and the musical numbers and costumes really will "raise you up!" Loved it! Thank you, Yelp for the free admission! I would definitely have paid to see this one! read more

Broadway in Austin - A little Ruby Red refreshment before I see those ruby red, sparkly boots. - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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"I have so many people to thank; where do I begin? Thank You, Yelp! Thank You, Yelp Elite! Thank You, Lexus Broadway in Austin! Thank You, Texas Performing Arts! Thank You, UT-Bass Concert Hall Thank You, John Boy (non-sequitur, but why not?) Maybe most importantly, THANK YOU, Cast & Production Company of CHICAG..." (Oops, there's that "time's up" music to cut me off.) Great show, wonderful EXPERIENCE, in all respects! If I had one complaint, it would be the cost of parking; if ya know, IN ADVANCE, that you're attending an event on UT campus, suggest you book parking ahead of time. Some (not all) parking spaces are administered by an independent contractor; if I'd reserved one of THOSE in advance, cost woulda been a "whopping" $6. But the contractor doesn't seem to offer their spaces "the day of", so I paid $12 to park in the SAME garage. But considering what my TICKET cost, what do I have to complain about? I'll save my review of UT-Bass Concert Hall for "their" page, & focus on the "Chicago" show & experience. It's not hard at all to see why "Chicago" is such a long-running production; it is FLAWLESS. I'm not what would be called a Broadway "aficionado", but I know more than enough about the art form to know a good play/musical from a bad one. Sadly, some Broadway productions, even those that get rave reviews while playing ON Broadway, suffer when they go "on the road". Sometimes it's due to a watered-down production, sometimes it might be a "second string" Cast of understudies, or an Original cast that isn't bringin' their "A" Game to the stage. It's great that The Great White Way is so revered, but for performers (at least those that don't care about anything but), once "proven" & taken out of NYC, they think "OK, now I can RELAX; these idiots won't know the difference (Ah, but we do). Such is not the case with "Chicago", or at least not the Austin performance. Maybe it's because this crew understands that it DOES matter how it "plays in Peoria", as they say. Maybe they're on their "best behavior" in Austin, cuz we're known as a "cultural Mecca" (though some kid themselves we're on a par with NYC, L.A., Houston, & others; we're not "there" yet). Me? I DON'T CARE. All I know is I saw a fantastically-performed production! There are a few things separating "Chicago" from other plays/musicals: First, the Orchestra usually gets relegated to "The Pit". While a CRUCIAL element to the success of any show, they are always "out-of-sight", and not given their just due by some, even many seasoned attendees. In "Chicago", though not very well illuminated for most of the show (they do get their moment), they're A PART of the set; RIGHT ON! Saves 'em money on multiple sets too; smart. SIDEBAR: As a musician myself, I STRONGLY DISAGREE with the "canned music" thang some Broadway producers would like to see, so they can save money (you WON'T see it in ticket prices, though). I urge you to "show your support" by NOT ATTENDING any show that employs this practice, no matter how tempting. Anywhere, but ESPECIALLY in Austin; after all, we ARE the "Live Music Capital of the World", or so "they" tell us. We're certainly NOT the "Live Musical INCOME Capital of the World", but we'll leave that for another discussion. Might be slightly off the main subject, but I had to mention. And the cast, yes, the CAST! For several of the "Chorus" numbers, the Chorus is "in the wings", and not very visible to the audience, but "in the shadows". I bought my Opera Glasses (OK, so they're Binoculars; got a problem?). They're sittin' in chairs, of both sides of the stage, and EVERY ONE is singin' their hearts out! The "Dancers" are doing double duty as vocalists. And ALL are on-pitch, on-time, & again, a CRUCIAL element to the richness of the experience. Take that element away & it wouldn't be the same. Of course, John O'Hurley & the other "stars" of the show do an amazing job, but I'll leave it to others to heap praise on them (Yelp's pesky 5000 character limit). I feel for what they're paid to be the "draw", they're EXPECTED to be "on" at all times. But they did get one thing wrong: "Roxie" is GUILTY... ...of a TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCE, that is, along with her super-talented cast-mates! And OK, I'm a guy, so I gotta say it: Some VERY HOT WIMMEN! So arrest me (but put me in Roxie's cell...) o;-) And Bass is even a little more lenient about camera-phones than some "others" (I said a LITTLE). It's a losing battle for THEM, & it's pointless. After looking at the photos in the "pay" program, the clarity, shot angles, composition, etc., do they REALLY consider a PHONE CAMERA to be competition? As with the Long Center (read my review), I say GET OVER IT! OK, I'm not Siskel or Ebert. For one, they review movies; for another, they're both DEAD. So I'm not much like them at all. But do I recommend you see CHICAGO? YOU BETCHA! larrythediner . read more

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Last night I felt like a little girl again!! Actually...had I been a little girl...I might have just totally lost my mind at the wonderfulness that was The Beauty and the Beast! What a great show...from the costumes to the performers to the sets. It was everything I thought it would be and more. It was so funny, too, watching these characters and simultaneously remembering how those same characters came across on screen when I watched the movie over and over and over as a kid. There were even times in the movie where I had the thought of...had I been a little kid, I might have been a little spooked! The wolves...the stabbing...etc. Also, I had a small epiphany about Disney in general...there is always a drinking scene in their movies! So funny that we've become so PC that it kind of shocked me to realize that....well, that and all of the sexual innuendos. They did a fabulous job at capturing those little nuances....you know..like, Gaston always seemed to have a little sugar in his tank...along with an inflated ego, of course. And The Beast always seemed to be like a 5 year old in a man's body...demanding and always throwing fits! The facial expressions were priceless...the characters I loved so much (Luminere, Cogsworth, Chip, etc....) completely brought to life just totally made my night. I love that no matter where you're sitting in the theater you've got a great view. It would be nice if all theaters, not just this one, realized that we're larger humans than we were, say, 20 years ago and make the aisles a little wider, but that's about my only complaint. Having to stand up every time someone needed to walk by got old pretty quickly. Parking is pretty straight forward....reminder, there's a back entrance to the Manor garage that no one was utilizing. Thank you so so so much, Yelp, for the awesome seats!! read more

Book of Mormon was absolutely amazing! I was BLOWN AWAY. I didn't go in with any expectations because I had never seen a Broadway show before, and this definitely exceeded what I had imagined in my head. Growing up, I was always involved in the performing arts scene, but I guess I was used to just fun yet vanilla performances. But, OH this was NOT vanilla. It was awesome. Book of Mormon was funny, witty, and hilariously inappropriate in a tasteful way. Overall the venue, the performance, the singing, the acting, the dancing, just WOW! Everything was just amazing! So happy I got to see this show! read more

I can't be ANYTHING but thrilled with what the Broadway In Austin people provide us. Over the years, I've seen a lot of shows that I wouldn't have been able to see because I'm not exactly in Manhattan very often and even when I am, it's still pretty impossible to get into some shows. Broadway In Austin gives us not only the opportunity to experience Broadway shows, they also give it to us at a VERY affordable price. You also get the added benefit of being able to have a nice night out with friends, family, or a significant other and still go home to your own bed. Some may whine about Broadway casts vs. touring casts, but that's ridiculous. I've seen plenty of shows where the touring cast was actually better than their counterparts on Broadway. Seriously, the first time I saw "Rent" was an AMAZING touring cast. Then when I saw it at the Nederlander Theatre in NYC, I had to sit through Jessica Simpson's ex-husband's brother and someone who got kicked off of American Idol. Neither were right for the show and it was not good. REALLY not good. I've never been displeased with any of the casts I've seen in a Broadway In Austin show. We're definitely getting some top notch talent in these touring productions. Needless to say, tonight's production of "Memphis" was just as great as anything else I've had the pleasure of seeing and I have Broadway In Austin to thank for it! read more

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This is the 20th Anniversary on Broadway for Beauty and the Beast! Phew, step back and take that in, Beauty and the Beast the movie came out in 1991! Beauty and the Beast on Broadway was stunning opening night. It made me fully appreciate Austin's Bass Concert Hall. I have an affinity for downtown Fort Worth's beautiful Bass Performance Hall, partially because it was my introduction into the world of big musicals. Previous shows were terrific, but I never felt like the stage was properly embraced until now. In all likelihood a bit of that magic is due to the entire original 1994 creative crew coming back together for this tour. The ingenuity in the set, choreography, effects, music, directing, and costumes were top notch. The male cast members stole the show! Which was really fun, about ten minutes into Gaston's performance and I was ready to call it "The Gaston Show." I loved how the show was updated, a little darker, and showcased the entire cast's talent during the mug clanking dance and "Be Our Guest." Though, the most darling moment came when a little girl a couple of rows back proclaimed "Gross!" when Gaston was forcibly kissing Belle's arm, an unforeseen perk of live performances! Beauty and the Beast might be a tale as old as time, and maturity seems to be working out quite well for it. Thanks to Texas Performing Arts for reminding me of why this was one of my favorite Disney movies growing up, and learning that I knew all the lines by heart and then trying so hard to not disturb my rowmates. Also, I don't know why, but I'm pretty certain I'd want to be turned into a whisk if I had to be a household item. read more

Broadway in Austin - Be our guest! - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Let's face it. I am totally spoiled re: musicals. I grew up near Broadway itself and was extremely privileged to see a bunch of shows on and off-Broadway before I left the roost of NY. So my standards are a lot higher than most. Still, I was fairly excited to go to my first musical at Bass. "Memphis" is based on Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips, one of the first white DJs to play black music in the 1950s. Because the nature of the show is such that it revolves a large degree around racism, I'm not sure if you'd want to take a little kid to this (vs. say, Cats). Here's what I got to say about my experience - 5-stars for: (Yelp Austin HQ for being them, because they sent me to this show. But this is Broadway in Austin's review.) Bass Concert Hall's staff, from the will-call staff, ushers, bartenders, cafe, to the students up on the 6th floor, who were all super nice. (Did you know they usually have some free foods and stuff up on the 6th floor before shows?) I was there pretty early. Bass Concert Hall's seating, which was comfy and spacious enough for even very-large-guy next to me to sit, and climate control, which was perfect given the wintry evening. YMMV if you are way the heck up in the 2nd balcony. Jasmin Richardson and Joey Elrose, Memphis' touring company's two leads, who really gave it their all, and most of the Memphis cast, who had 'the stuff', the voices and the dancing. This is what I expect from Broadway. Great work. 3-2 stars for: - Audio. As a Performing Arts Tech grad, I realize this is complicated. It could have been an audio person problem, set design problem, or architectural problem. Sitting in orchestra D 141, it was definitely echoey and hard to understand, especially when the performers were speaking. Also, too loud from my seat, so I put in earplugs. (There were signs posted around the theatre before the show began that said something like 'beware, loud gunshots and haze fx in this performance', but that was not the problem). - Songs. Despite winning 4 2010 Tony Awards (best musical, best original score by David Bryan, keyboardist for Bon Jovi), Drama Desk awards and a bunch of other awards? they were just not memorable. Nope. You could make the argument that every decent pop song able to be written using our conventional system of Western European scales & chords has been done by now, and that trying to do something truly 'new' is impossible. Or, that Bryan had to work within the parameters of the dawn of rock n roll, where songs tended not to incorporate too many fancy chords, which would have made his job even more difficult. But the genius of great pop songwriters is that they write something that sounds fresh to our ears even though it's probably already been done. To me, if a musical doesn't have memorable songs, what good is it? "Memphis" was an enjoyable enough experience, particularly if you haven't seen many musicals, but perhaps for us old timers, it doesn't deserve a seat at the same historic table as musicals like Evita, West Side Story, or Phantom. read more

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Broadway at Bass is always a treat and Memphis was no exception! Bass is a wonderful place to see a show. Polite, helpful staff/volunteers will steer you to your seats or the restroom or drinks. I've never had a bad seat where I had trouble hearing or seeing. Free parking if you have a staff/faculty permit. If you bring me with you, I'll bring my parking pass :) read more

I always have a great time at the Bass Concert Hall and this was another one. I can't say that there isn't a bad seat in the house and if you are hard of seeing, I'd suggest shelling out the money for Orchestra seating. On this occasion for Wicked I could barely make out if Fiyero was hot from my Balcony 1 seat. I will just assume that he was and move on. This was my second time to see Wicked and compared to the previous tour I think this one was pretty good. It's really hard to judge a cast when you are so accustom to hearing Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth but this cast held their own. I highly recommend checking out this tour while they are still here in Austin. read more

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Jersey Boys is a musical about the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. This is of course, before the dreaded reality show, Jersey Shore with the fake tan and abs. It was a great musical and it was awesome to see the crowd get into the songs which I only hear when I'm in the car with dad. Of course 50's and 60's music is the only thing my Dad and I have a common ground when we listen to music. I know Clint Eastwood did an adaptation of this musical but I rather see it on the stage. The seats I had were awesome - center and I can see straight to the stage, no side views at all. I happened to be sitting next to Dwight B and Lindsay M. It was a pleasure meeting them. The volunteers were helpful in finding my seat and greeting me. Parking is not cheap and it's $12. I just park outside of the campus on Dean Keaton where you back into the spot. It's free and it's a bit of a walk. read more

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I love the theater! Many of my childhood memories with my grandparents are going to the theater. So take me there as much as you can! The shows at Broadway in Austin at Texas Performing Arts are fantastic. These are the shows that win awards and change minds. This venue is fantastic for a few reasons. 1. Tons of parking nearby. 2. Easy to get in to the box office, they are always so staffed I have never seen a line. 3. Bars on every floor if you feel you need a drink before a show (but really people stay sharp these are works of art.) 4. The seating is staggered out in such a way that only once in 5 visits have I thought my view was obstructed by someone in front of me. 5. The sound has been wonderful from being in row 4 to being in floor 2 row z. I never thought that I missed a line or lyric. As for the shows themselves, I don't even know where to start each one should get its own review. But Ill try to be brief. Beauty and the Beast; 1. I loved seeing all the little ones in their belle costumes coming to the show. You could audibly hear the gasp from them all as the performers came on stage. 2. The performers were phenomenal, and the costumes were just exceptional. If you think the Disney movie has some great costumes, the musical itself had better. 3. The backdrops and scenery all felt as though they were painted with love and care. 4. The orchestra... We ended up with tickets in the 8th row orchestra level and the music was enchanting. War Horse; 1. The puppets at first were strange, but the movements of the puppeteers made it so that after a while you forgot there were 3 people moving the horse, just the horse there giving its all. 2. So many "props" in the show like fences, walls, buildings and doors were played by people. The effect was fantastic and made the whole world feel dynamic like it could change at any moment. 3. The music was good, but it didn't move me quite like some of the musicals we have seen of late, but then again it wasn't a musical. Wicked; 1. OMG! OMG! 2. OK, calming down. This was great, the sets were fun and very steam punk. 3. The performers were outstanding, we even had an understudy and I couldn't tell a difference. 4. The costumes had a whimsical sense to them and stood out well among the dark scenery. 5. The orchestra just blew me away. It sounded better than any recording of this I have listened to and was moving. American Idiot; 1. I didn't know what to expect here, but it was good. I thought the absolute best part of this show was the multimedia display. The way they use the entire city and back drop to play videos on, and how they incorporated so many different sized screens into the backdrop. 2. The performers had so much energy on stage I was surprised we didn't see anyone slipping on the floor from sweat with the way they were running around and dancing. 3. To go back to the set the way they re-arranged the stairs, scaffolding and supports made for some really interesting scenes and ways for the performers to interact with each other. 4. The message of the story came across well with the use of the rock/punk music, and it was great to be able to see so much of the orchestra from the seats we had. I can not wait to go back and experience more shows with Texas Performing Arts. read more

Broadway in Austin - Oh yeah! - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Thanks to Luci and Yelp elite events, I was able to see An American in Paris here at Bass Concert Hall last night with my hubby. I had seen Rent here prior, so I was familiar with the location itself. It is a fairly small theater in my opinion, so that makes any seat pretty good for views. We parked at the MAG garage, it was $15. Wear comfortable shoes because there is a bit of walking. The show was impressive, especially the dancing and visuals. It seemed a bit less like other musicals I've seen as far as it had less talking-singing and was more innovative, more inergrative with visual art. I totally wasn't expecting that from this performance. Olden days charming music combined with mod art. You could tell that the actors danced their hearts out. And their talent was amazing. read more

Holy smokes ANNIE! This was the best Broadway I've seen in Austin yet! The costumes, the set changes, the music, the DOG (Sandy!). Oh yeah. The company! Let's not forget him! ;) TIPS! - Ladies, make a beeline for the bathroom (right side on level 2, left side on levels 1 and 3) as soon as intermission hits if you want to avoid the 20+ people line that emerges within minutes. - $7 domestic beers and $8 crafts - White Rabbit, Shiner Light and Bock, Fat Tire were all available. - I parked on Dean Keaton in those back-in spaces and walked. It's not a bad walk for date night. -Also "no photography or selfies" in the theater. That's what the usher told me. Do I not look old or smart enough to know that a selfie is a photograph? read more

Broadway in Austin - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Snagged a couple of tickets to War Horse (thanks to Yelp!) for last night's performance and had such a great time. I am a HUGE theater buff and work in local theaters in town so you can imagine how THRILLED I was when I sat down in my seat and the lights lowered for the first monologue. Strapped with only the basis of the story I did not expect to be as completely blown away at the production. Even with a minimal set design (torn piece of paper screen and timeline of story was so cool!), practical and seemingly easy to operate props and puppets, the amazing choreography and blocking of the actors controlling the puppets, the lighting design was stellar, and the musical score was very stylistic to the time of the musical. I mentioned to my date, at intermission, that at first I thought I would be distracted by watching the actors moving the puppet during the performance, however, I was not! I hardly noticed them and actually grew to appreciate them as the storyline continued after intermission as the story plot thickened. Such a great cast, amazing ushers and folks who work at Texas Performing Arts, and a stellar musical performance by the technicians and the production folks who make War Horse such a delightful production to see! I would recommend to ANYONE - young, old, new, daring, caring, and those who just want to get lost in a story that absolutely captures your heart. I cried my eyes out 2x during the performance and I was unashamed as I saw some women in the row in front of me passing tissues to one another during the same stage scenes. Bring the tissues and extra eyeliner. You are going to need it like I did. I was completely moved and now a fan of the stage production of War Horse. Bravo! read more

Wow! What can I say! I absolutely loved seeing the performance of Wicked at the Bass Concert Hall. I haven't been to a Broadway play in a while so it was nice to check out as I have a lot of friends that have been raving about it and I totally see why. Wicked was just amazing, I loved the music, the costumes, the performances... I could go on. It was an outstanding production. I can safely say that the gals that played Elphaba and Glenda had some amazing pipes! I loved how the story revolved on the friendship the main characters had and how the Wicked witch was misunderstood. I absolutely loved that and totally did not expect it! The Bass concert hall was impressive, the seats were comfortable, the ushers were friendly and helpful, and so were the bartenders!! I loved the fact that drinks were $8 for a beer and that cocktails were $9.... not as bad as I thought they would be. One thing that I do wish they had was cup holders on their seats, but that is because I just love my alcohol! Either way my experience was outstanding, and I just can't wait to experience another Broadway performance! read more

Broadway in Austin - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

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